As the rest of the country swelters in the summertime scorch, folks in the High Country are comfortably basking in Breck’s inviting warm rays and cool mountain breezes while enjoying activities on the slopes… or, while relaxing on a deck soaking in the views of the slopes…. with a refreshing mixy in hand. Why do these ten short weeks cause Breckenridge-lovers to fall even harder for these perfect peaks? Mother Nature serves up summer in Summit on a silver platter of ideal weather for all who enjoy having fun in the sun (which means there’s no need to roast in unbearable heat or lock yourself away in an air-conditioned basement). Because you guys rock, the BOB staff scrupulously scoured local watering holes and lapped up countless cocktails in the name of research, enabling us to confidently bring you the best of Breck’s summertime bevvys. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it, and we would never let you down.

MODIS: Known for being one of the swankier places on Main Street, Modis has one of our favorite roof decks in town. Lounge on one of their comfy couches while you take in the uninhibited views of the mountains. We give their happy hour an A+!

Staff Favorites: Butcher Block appetizer and a French 75 cocktail.

SOUTHRIDGE SEAFOOD: Now located in La Cima mall, Southridge is still serving up Breck’s finest seafood, but now boasts one of Breck’s best decks for dining (and drinking). With the only raw bar in Summit County and some of the best happy hour deals, you will want to make sure to stop in.

BURKE & RILEY’S: Enjoy traditional Irish fare, generously made libations and a second story deck in the heart of town. Burk’s is open late, making it a prime spot for nighttime munchies. This restaurant serves some authentic Irish foods like fish and chips as well as Shepard pie. They hae a large patio with some of the most amazing views of Breckenridge as well. If you’re looking for a great place to eat and mountains scenery, this place is the place to go!

Staff Favorites: Irish Stew entrée and a traditional Moscow Mule.

NAPPER TANDY’S: Warm up by the fireplace, play some pool, get a game of darts going or try to beat our high scores at Big Buck Hunter while enjoying one of town’s most popular spots. Napper’s has one of the tallest, most spacious decks in Breck and is a great spot to catch the sunset. Make sure to check out their sister restaurant downstairs, Salt Creek, for yummy breakfast and classic Irish meals.

Staff Favorites: Chicken Finger Basket and a Green Tea Shot.

BANGKOK HAPPY BOWL: It’s hard not to be happy when you’re admiring mountain views while munching on a plethora of authentic Thai dishes including curry, sushi and wontons. We also enjoy their happy hour pricing and occasional live music.

Staff Favorites: Pad Thai and Purple Haze Sake.

BLUE STAG: This local hotspot offers both a back deck to view the sunset on and a front deck with a fire pit, where you can choose to eat or warm up by the fire pit. The Stag is one of the prime places to grab a wood-fired pizza, which is served until midnight. Play a game of stump out front if you’re feeling rowdy!

FLIPSIDE: Boasting the best burgers in town and three floors of seating plus a full bar and outdoor patio, Breck’s new burger joint is as tasty as they come. The coolest part (pun intended) about Flipside is that they make MILKSHAKES. And, yes, you can get them with booze. As a matter of fact, they list suggested liquor pairings alongside their unrivaled shakes.

RMU TAVERN: Rocky Mountain Underground is definitely Breck’s most popular up and coming bar. Featuring a huge deck with tons of seating in the front and an entire yard to play in with another FULL bar, hammocks, lounge chairs, regular live music, and cornhole out back, you’ll never want to leave. Shop while you sip and enjoy the truly unique ambiance of RMU. Charlie is our favorite bartender and serves tasty drinks!

Staff Favorites: BYOF (grab a pizza from Giam’s) and the Ginger Spice cocktail.

ROBBIE’S TAVERN: Nestled on the slopes in the Grand Colorado Resort on Peak 8, Robbies is quickly becoming Breck’s top ski bar and restaurant. Owned by locals who know their stuff, this spot comes complete with a huge deck lined by fireplaces. If you’re grabbing lunch while enjoying Epic Discovery or you’re hitting the bar after a long hike, Robbie’s is the place to go!

KENOSHA: This spot rocks one of the best and biggest decks in town with plenty of seating and Breck’s only horseshoe pits. Bring the whole family down for some fun in the sun while you enjoy their amazing happy hour deals and famous steak.

Whether you’re outdoorsy in the sense that you like drinking on patios, or you’re an enthusiastic mountaineering activity junky, the decks of Breck have just the thing to quench any thirst you might work up as you celebrate the locals’ favorite season. This is REALLY good news for those of us who like to keep it cool while sipping on scrumptious seasonal fusions without a care in the world (well, maybe one: reapplying sunscreen after activities… or, in between rounds). It’s time to grab your drinking shoes and maybe even pack some biking, climbing, hiking or water shoes, too. The best time of year in Breck is upon us, and anyone who doesn’t get up here will be thirsty (and sweaty) until those flakes start hitting the ground.

The days are getting longer. It’s starting to get a little warmer. Birds and other animals that haven’t been seen too much in the last few months are starting to make their way back from their various winter haunts and people across the country are counting down the days until that one precious week in March when schools see fit to cut the children loose. That glorious week also known as spring break is almost here. It’s a time to get away, step out from the busy lives that each of us leads and let go for a week. For those coming to Breckenridge to shred, March is a great time to let it out and throw down just a little bit. Here are some ideas on how to fill your nights (and days) this Spring Break in Breckenridge.

Party: Isn’t partying what spring break is all about? In a one-mile stretch of town Breckenridge there are a lot of restaurants and bars, almost 100 in fact. There is no shortage of places to go for a meal, drink, entertainment and plain old good times. From Apres’ to late night, Breckenridge has a spot for everyone. Almost every night in March there is live music, trivia games, comedy, killer deals and plain good times. A great resource for finding the best deals and events in the local restaurants and bars is imnotatwork.com. Check it out and start planning your good times now.

Relax: Spending all day slaying powder is hard work and weather you decide to rip some turns or not there is nothing better than a massage, body wrap or any spa treatment to ease achy muscles and recharge a tired spirit. There are many spas all over Breckenridge so these is no shortage of different types of massages and spa treatments. Check out our recent blog on spas in Breckenridge for some great spa options in town.

Music and Arts: One of the coolest things that Breckenridge has done in the past few years is ramp up town’s cultural offerings including the creation of the Breckenridge Arts District or CreateBreck.org. Breckenridge has the second largest arts district in Colorado and Breck Create has done some very good work to bring in a variety of performing acts that span from rock bands to art exhibits to events. This March events such as the Banff Mountain Film Festival and bands like Donovan Frankenreiter, Comedy performances like Sandra Bernhard and much more are on tap. Click here to see the full lineup of events produced by Create Breck.

Try something besides skiing: Spring is still winter in Breckenridge and skiing is why it is so popular here in March. Of popularity comes with a price and that can be crowded slopes especially in March. Of course regardless of the crowds, you should ski and ski a lot! But consider taking a day to try a different winter activity like dog sledding, snowmobiling or cross country skiing. All of these activities are perfect to try in Breckenridge. Here is a great blog on things to in Breck without skis.

March is a fantastic time to visit Breckenridge. It is a time when everything is open and town is clicking on all cylinders. Spring Breakers rejoice! There is so much to do in Breckenridge. In fact we wrote a blog all about that. Here are 100 things to do in Breckenridge this winter.

Bloody Mary’s; the glorious hair-of-the-dog libation that helps get you goin’ in the morning. After a late night out on the town, a Bloody Mary might be exactly what you need to kick-start your day. The Best of Breck Team ventured around the county and did some “research” on where to get the best hangover cure in a glass in Summit County. We turned to our own taste buds and reached out to locals so we could give you the inside scoop. Here’s who made the cut (not in any particular order):

Robbie’s is a brand new, locally owned slopeside bistro, with unparalleled views. Located right at the base of Peak 8 within the Grand Colorado, Robbie’s is the new hot spot to grab a drink après skiing. We checked out their bloody as advised by some locals, and were blown away. It was seriously good; the perfect mix of vodka and tomato juice, perfect spice, and topped with BACON. Yeah, bacon.

The Bacon Bloody at 6th Alley has been named the “Best Bloody Mary in Summit County, Colorado”. When you try it, you’ll see why. Not only does it come with a delicious strip of bacon on top, but they also use bacon-infused vodka! Bacon makes everything better. They are so good, that Abasin even has a lift ticket deal that includes a voucher for their famous bloody. Now that’s something we can get behind.

Angel’s Hollow is a local’s favorite and has a Bloody Mary that challenges them all. This drink is seriously stacked. There’s pretty much everything except the kitchen sink in this drink. It has to be seen to be believed. Watch out; this one is SPICY!

The Ultimate Bloody Mary – 32oz of the Usual Suspect with an extra gluttonous garnish of fun! -$20

MLT is known for their house infused booze, so of course, you get an infused vodka with your bloody. They garnish the Usual Suspect with a strip of bacon, olives, pepperoncini and olives. The Ultimate Bloody gets a little crazy. First of all, 32oz of booze. 32. OUNCES. Sign us up. Second of all, they garnish that baby with peppered bacon, a spam fry, and an entire chicken tender! Really reinforcing the whole ‘meal in a glass’ concept.

If you’ve never been to the Crown, definitely check it out. It’s a cute little coffee shop right in the heart of Breck that has delicious breakfast, lunch, coffee and BOOZE! You can get all these delicious boozy breakfast drinks early in the morning because it’s a coffee shop so they’re open earlier than most places. They keep it local and use vodka from Breckenridge Distillery as well as 9600 Bloody Mary Mix. Then they basically top it off with a salad. Sold.

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So next time you’re in Breck and stay out a little too late, head to one of these spots in Summit County for a delicious hangover cure. Remember, you can’t drink all day unless you start in the morning!

When you think of comfort food, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For us, it’s Mac & Cheese. Baked noodles with a rich and creamy sauce, cheese, cheese, and more cheese! How could you not fall in love? We asked some locals around town what their favorite spot in Breck was to satisfy that ooey gooey craving. Here’s the list of restaurants that we came up with…

The Mac & Cheese at The Canteen was mentioned by locals most frequently. After going there to do some “research” of our own, we can see why! Big shells topped with four different kinds of cheese and baked to cheesy perfection: mild cheddar, jack, extra sharp cheddar, and gruyere. The best part? They crumble Cheez-Its on top! You can also add a bunch of different toppings on there for a few bucks extra if you’re feeling adventurous. We took the bartender’s advice and got BBQ pulled pork on top. We were not disappointed.

The Briar came in a close second as the local’s favorite. The Chop House has an upscale ambiance and a buzzy and social happy hour scene. Getting the Mac n’ Cheese during happy hour is definitely a good way to go if you are looking to save some cash since dinner can add up. According to locals and Mac & Cheese enthusiasts, Lauren Garver and Jessica Schumacher, “The Briar Rose Chop House has our favorite by far! It has layers of flavor (maybe because there’s 5-7 different types of cheese in it) and it’s that superb balance of a thick creamy cheese sauce with a perfectly toasted crust on top!” *Drooool*

Build Your Own Mac N’ Cheese. Breck local, Michael Doyal (also known as Patch) says, “You can customize it just like you customize a pizza and it’s delicious!” Start with their house pasta in a 3-cheese sauce, then choose any two toppings for no additional charge! Taking cheesy matters into your own hands.

First of all, they have Mac & Cheese Egg Rolls. Yeah. Let that sink in for a second. Second of all, their Homemade Mac & Cheese is creamy and velvety with elbow pasta, Ritz Crackers on top and shaved parmesan. The sauce is a little thinner on this dish as it is not baked and is oh, so good.

Red’s is that cute little place at the south end of town with a walk-up window and outdoor seating. They serve lunch and dinner until 2 am so you can satisfy that late-night craving. The Mac and Cheese there is so good and totally customizable. They have everything from Sriracha to meatballs to pile on top. It’s thick and savory made with a sharper cheese which makes it rich and delicious. Something you will definitely want to go back for.

Robbie’s has a prime location, right at the base of Peak 8. Talk about good people watching. Walk in after shredding some powder and order the Mac N Cheese, complete with Cavatappi noodles, house made cheese sauce and topped with a cheesy goldfish crunch! You can also add pulled pork, chicken or bacon. Yum!

If you find yourself over in Dillon, still with a hankering for mac & cheese, stop by the Dillon Dam Brewery for some Mountain Man Mac & Cheese. Cavatappi spiral pasta with a creamy cheese sauce, flavored with a touch of Dam Straight Lager, chopped bacon and green chilies. Local Dave Reinwand says about the mac, “Get Blackened Chicken or Buffalo Sausage on it and then you can wash it down with a Dam Beer!” Sounds like a Dam good time (sorry we had to).

Frisco local, Sierra Altman says that “Greco’s in Frisco has the BEST mac and cheese, [called Gavin’s Mac n Cheese] they use their homemade cheese sauce but there is also goat cheese in it which I love, it makes it so creamy! You have the option to add a few things to the mac and cheese, and I usually go with bacon, which I highly recommend. They also have fried Mac n Cheese Bites which are equally amazing!” You had us at mac and cheese.

Well, there you have it.

There’s obviously more places in Summit County that have Mac & Cheese, but these were the restaurants that were mentioned by everyone we interviewed. So next time you’re up here, take a stroll down Main St, check out one (or all) of these spots, satisfy that cheesy craving, and then… well let’s be honest; you’ll probably want to nap. Food coma commence.

Pizza. Yum… It just might be the best thing in the world. Baked cheesy goodness, robust sauce, and toasty crust with steamy soft bread on the inside. What more could you really ask for?

Whether you like it thick or thin, cheesy or saucy, plain jane or loaded up, Breckenridge has it all. We’re here to give you “the inside slice” about the best pizza in Breck. We asked some locals about their favorite spot to grab a heavenly slice of ‘za and this is what they had to say…

Thick or Thin: They offer a thin and crispy New York-Style Pizza as well as a Sicilian Deep Dish.

The Cheese on Top: Almost everyone we asked said that Giam’s was hands down the best pizza in town. They make everything in-house from their balsamic vinaigrette to the pizza sauce and the quality of their ingredients really shine through. They also recently expanded the dining room area to include more tables, a bar, and a private dining room. More pizza for everyone!

The Inside Slice: “Pizza by the slice is perfect for a quick lunch. It’s always delicious, never too greasy, and the crust is perfectly crisp!”

The Cheese on Top: These guys are seriously creative. Even though they still offer all the traditional pizza topping options, you can get a little crazy with their signature pizzas. They are chalk full of bold flavors that are a match made in heaven. If you’re looking for a fresh and delicious twist on pizza, you need to check out Northside.

The Inside Slice: “The ‘Out of Bounds’ crust option is where they load up on the toppings. They don’t hold back, they stack ‘em on all the way to the crust and then cut it up into squares. This option is perfect for families with children or big parties!”

Thick or Thin: They offer a traditional hand tossed crust, but you still have a few options. You can choose between white, garlic white, wheat, garlic wheat, or gluten free. Mmm… garlic.

The Cheese on Top: Eric’s is the perfect spot to hit with the family and kids after thrashing powder all day long. It’s an arcade style restaurant and bar with 29 flat screen HDTV’s, 25 arcade games, 30 beers on tap, and 50 beers by the bottle. The kids are sure to love all the games and you can kick back, unwind, and watch the game with a beer (or two).

The Inside Slice: “The Garbage Pizza is definitely a local’s favorite. It’s the traditional “let’s-throw-everything-on-here” pizza and it is delicious. If you want to try something a little different, but equally enticing, check out the Arugula and Prosciutto Pizza.”

By the Slice: Yes – all day (buy 2 slices get 1 free for happy hour 3-6 p.m.)

Thick or Thin: They offer a handcrafted New York-style, crispy square, and a gluten free crust.

The Cheese on Top: Fairly new to Breckenridge, Luigi’s takes a creative and unique approach to their pies with specialty pizzas that will blow your mind. They have a breakfast pizza complete with a mozzarella base, topped with eggs over medium, cheddar & choice of breakfast sausage, bacon, or Taylor Ham. Drool. It’s also worth mentioning they make all of their ingredients in-house, including the mozzarella and sausage!

The Cheese on Top: You will feel like Michael himself is cooking an authentic Italian meal for you and your family. They have great service, delicious food, and fair prices.

The Inside Slice: “They have very good classic Italian food in the heart of downtown Breckenridge. It’s a great place for families to eat after a long day of hitting the slopes.”

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There you have it! These are the best places to go in Breckenridge to get pizza according to the locals we asked. Next time you’re up here, check out one (or all) of these pizza joints and treat yo’self to a glorious slice (or a whole pie). Remember, any pizza is a personal pizza if you try hard enough and believe in yourself.